Rail-joint.



H. M. GOULTER.

BAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATIO! FILED JUNE 14. 1812 M 1,054,280. Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

IN VEN TOR WITNESSES w uuuuuuuuuu 740a nm nnn n c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nowannmaoouman, or RIFLE, COLORADO.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Howano- M. GoUL'rsn, a citizen of the UnitedState's, residin at Rifle, in the county of Garfield and S tate of Colorado, have invented certain newfand useful Improvements in Rail-Joints. of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of joints for railway rails which are characterized by a pair of fish-plates, which latter are shaped to extend beneath the rails to form a rail chair. Y

The invention relates more particularly to the connection between the two fish-plate members, and its object is to provide novel and improved means for fastening said members together, whereby a strong and rigid joint is obtained.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is bad to the acrompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which drawing,

Figure l is a cross-section of the joint. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the two members of the joint. Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away.

Referring s ecifically to the drawing, 5 denotes the a utting ends of two railway rails. The 'oint between the rails is made by means of two members 6 and 7, respectively, said members, except as hereinafter described, bein similar to the ordinar fishplates employe in rail joints, the rail tting between the same as usual, and the arts being united by bolts 8 passing t erethrough. The .bolt holes 9 in the sh-plate members are elongated to ermit expansion and contraction of the m1 s. The member (3 has a horizontal base portion 10 which extends beneath the base of the rail, and the member 7 has a similar base portion 11 which also extends under the rail base, the length of each of said base portions being substantially one-half the width of the rail base, so that their inner edges meet under the rail base midway between the edges thereof. The parts 10 and 11 form a chair on which the rails seat, and at the meeting edges-of said parts are downturned flanges 12 and 13, respectively, which extend throughout the entire length of the joint and are fastened together in face-toface relation by a key 14 passing through registerin slots 15 therein. After the key is inserted t e ends thereof are bent down Specification of Letters Patent. 7 e Application filed lune 14, 191$. Serial No. 703,720.

RAIL-JOINT.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

over the outside of the flanges, whereby the key issecurely held in lace. A further connection between the anges 12 and 13 comprises hook-shaped tongues 16 projecting outward from the inner faces of the flanges, near thetop thereof. Each flange has two of these tongues. The tongues of the flange 12 pass through apertures 17 in the flange 13, and the tongues of the flange 13 pass through apertures 18 in the flange 12. It will therefore be seen that the flanges interlock with each other. The tongues of one flange are adjacent to one end thereof, and the apertures of said flange are adjacent to the other end thereof. The tongues and apertures of the other flanges are correspondin ly arranged, so that the tongues of one ange pass through the apertures of the other flange. The slots 15 are in longitudinal alinement with the tongues 16 and apertures 17 and 18.

In making the joint, the two members are first connected by inserting the tongues 16 through the apertures 17 and 18, and then moving the members longitudinally in opposite directions, after which the key 14 may be applied. The bolts 8 have a head 8 on each end, and nuts are not employed for securing the same. The bolt holes 9 of one fish plate are enlarged at one end as indicated at 9, and the bolt holes of the.

other fish plate are enlar ed at their opposite ends. In applyin tiie bolts, the membore 6 and 7 are lace so that the enlar ed ends of the bolt oles register, after which the bolt may be inserted. This is the position of the members before the tongues 16 are inserted through the apertures 17 and 18. Upon moving the members lengthwise in opposite directions, as hereinbefore describe the bolt shank passes into the contracted portion of the bolt hole, and as the bolt heads cannot pass throu 11 said portions of the bolt holes, the bot is now securely held against withdrawal. If the bolt is to be removed, the members must first be removed lengthwise in opposite directions so as to bring the enlarged ends of the bolt holes into registering )osition and in line with the bolt heads. t will of course be understood that the bolt holes in the web of the rail are lar e enough to allow the bolt heads to pass t lierethrough.

The parts herein described can be easily and quickly applied, and they form a strong and dnrabie' joint, thetwo members being repaired by employing the two members 6' and 7, leavin out the bolts 8, and support in saidmem rs on the ties.

claim: v l e 1. A rail joint comprising fish-plates having base portions which extend beneath the rails and have downturned apertured flanges at their 'inner edges tongues exten mg outwardly. from the inner faces of the flanges and passing through the apermeans passing v, 2. A rail joint comprising fish-plates havtnresiofthe op osite'fiange, and fastening tirough the flanges.

in'g base cportions which extend beneath the rails an have downturned flanges pro- 7 vided with interlocking tongues and alined openings, and keys secured in said openings.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD M. COULTER. Witnesses:

HARMON J. Conursn, MARK Tnonms.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .Patonts, Washington, D. 0. 

